Advance Scout: Red Sox, May 30-June 1. "Strange: Manny Ramirez's numbers are in line with his averages over his excellent career -- except for power ... He's slugging just .487, with only seven home runs ... He's always lit up the Jays with power, though ... But maybe not these Jays: Tanyon Sturtze is the only current Jays pitcher off of whom Manny has homered ..." (Batter's Box)

This is a serious young thrower we have here, and the Sox know it. They're not worried about patching up the bullpen. They'll find other guys to do that. What they see is a rotation that for once, is not built around retreads:

PedroDerek LoweTim WakefieldCasey FossumByung Hyun Kim

If you had to deal this rotation for the Yankees rotation of Clemens, Mussina, Wells, Pettite, and Weaver, you wouldn't do it. The Yankees staff has accomplished a lot more, but I'll guarantee you the five Red Sox pitchers listed here will win more games in the next five years then those Yankees pitchers.

(eisenbergsports)

Clutch Hits thread on the Hillenbrand/Kim trade. Number of comments as of 9:23 am Eastern: 215. Usually when a Clutch Hits thread gets this long, people are talking about politics or They Might Be Giants or something. But they're still talking about the trade.

Aaron Gleeman gives his top 5 choices for American and National League MVP. (Aaron's Baseball Blog)

Don Malcolm saves some for the Fish: Fish Fry, Weeks 7-8, Part 1 and Part 2. (Big Bad Baseball)

Prospectus Triple Play: Indians, Dodgers, Mariners. "The Dodgers' offense has been one of the least productive units in the National League this season--currently second-to-last in the NL in Equivalent Average, six points ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates--while both their bullpen and their rotation have been among the best. Led by the irresistible force that is Eric Gagne (26 IP, 46 K, 5 BB, 2.42 ERA), the Dodgers have miraculously been able to maintain a winning record despite scoring fewer runs than any team in the majors save the Tigers." (Baseball Prospectus)

Derek Zumsteg: "I've said this before, but baseball should seriously consider doing penance for their mistreatment of Montreal by building them a beautiful new stadium and setting them up with a quality ownership group, even if it doesn't come with the Selig Seal of Sycophancy. Revitalizing baseball in Montreal would be a huge victory for baseball's international aspirations, and would buy the league so much goodwill it'd be difficult to shake a stick at it." (Baseball Prospectus)